Senator John McCain's VP Pick: "Hold me accountable."

by Rhonda J Mangus | August 29, 2008 at 09:42 pm
491 views | 27 Recommendations | 23 comments

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Senator John McCain's VP Pick: "Hold me accountable."

Senator John McCain's VP Pick: "Hold me accountable."

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Alaskan Governor, and Senator John McCain's choice for vice president, Sarah Palin, is facing two ethics investigations.

In naming her as his vice presidential running mate Friday, Sen. John McCain hailed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as “someone who has fought against corruption.” But Palin is under two ethics investigations springing from accusations that she abused her office to pursue a personal grudge.

Palin has said she welcomes the investigations: “Hold me accountable.”

The investigations are reviewing the same accusation: that she dismissed the state’s top law enforcement official because of his refusal to fire a state trooper in a dispute that predated her election in 2006.

When she dismissed Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan on July 11, Palin said she wanted to take the commission in a new direction.

A week later, Monegan told NBC affiliate KTUU of Anchorage that he thought it was likely that he had been dismissed because he resisted pressure from Palin’s staff and husband to fire the trooper, who was involved in a bitter custody battle with the governor’s sister after their divorce in 2005.

Last month, the state Legislature appointed an independent investigator to review whether the governor or her aides abused their power by pressuring Monegan to fire the trooper, a probe that the Democratic chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee said could lead to Palin’s impeachment. The outside investigator, a retired assistant district attorney in Anchorage, was directed to file his report by Oct. 31, four days before the presidential election.

Palin strongly denied the accusations and ordered her own investigation by the state Law Department.

In a July 31 interview with CNBC, Palin defended the dismissal of Monegan, saying, “It is a governor’s prerogative, a right, to fill that Cabinet with members whom she or he believes will do best for the people whom we are serving.”



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Paul Conneally
Paul Conneally
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 21:49 on August 29th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff. The cracks are already appearing - like the cracks in the ice when the additional drilling for oil in Alaska that Palin supports finally puts paid to the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife.

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Rhonda J Mangus

LotusFlower, I agree that "The cracks are already appearing...". Thank you very much for your comments and the Flag.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi Zichi! Thank you for your comments and the Flag. I think that Governor Palin's inexperience in matters of critical concern to the United States at this point in time, such as National Security, will be down-played while her alleged "strengths"  and "assets" (pro-life, education, support for oil drilling, securing the women's vote, for example) will be over-worked (possibly to the point of exhaustion), and may also serve to act as a diversion to down-play the investigations faced by Governor Palin.

phoenixesrose
phoenixesrose
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:59 on August 29th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

It's just too bad that this report won't be filed until October 31 - and thereby be resolved 4 days before the election.

I worry that this race is going to become a he did this, she did this - mudslinging - instead of a true debate on issues that actually affect the country.

I guess the other thought in the back of my mind is .... IF the investigation were to find something - would John McCain dump her and pick someone else?  Is this all a "set up" to attract the female vote from Hillary - then switch horses in the middle of the race.... OR in the event the Investigation were to find something - would he stand by his "woman" so to speak and potentially lose the election.... Ahh the what iffs.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi phoenixesrose! Thank you very much for your comments and the Flag. I just read your story, here: http://www.nowpublic.com/world/palin-candidacy-raises-eyebrows-alaska-natives, so I think you may have already answererd your own questions:). Thanks again.

Uwe Paschen
Uwe Paschen
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:24 on August 30th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Barry ORegan
Barry ORegan
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:49 on August 30th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Thank you Paschen and Barry for reading this story, your comments and the Flags.

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Uwe Paschen

Politics, is a funny game filed with opinion and double standards. I am personally not to impressed with this choice so far with all I read about her. And this has nothing to do with her being a Woman or her religion or any thing else.

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CJaye

Michael and I have family in Alaska and boy we've already heard the chatter.  You really don't want to know what people in Alaska really think of her! The story is true she does use her power the way she see's fit.  Where they live everybody knows everybody it's no different than a small town. It maybe worse because they have nothing to do there trust me.  One thing I do promise you it will all come out and slap her in the face.

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CJaye

I agree that it should be about "...whether a person is ready to step up to the position." But unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  I didn't make the rules they did and our Government has being playing dirty for years sadly.

 

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Rhonda J Mangus

CJaye, thanks for stopping by and commenting.

tiha zaman
tiha zaman
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:14 on August 30th, 2008

As an outsider, the decision looks to be made so recklessly - impulsive and desperate. The issue isn't about feminism anymore as she plans to so-called "shatter the ceiling" but its whether a person is ready to step up to the position.  She rather looks to be in awe and eager rather than serious (if at all). Im seeing red. Thanks Rhonda for the highlight! :)

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Rhonda J Mangus

Thank you for your comments and the Flag, tiha. Impuslive and desperate for votes perhaps. I noticed one similarity shared by both presidential candidates in the choice of their VP. Governor Palin's ability to garner the votes of women initally reserved for Senator Clinton, and Senator Biden's ability to secure the votes of the "white-working class" in Ohio, where Senator Obama lost state-wide and where, conveniently, the voting machines are "out-of-commission" and will be "out-of-commission" for the general election. See NP Super Editor Jordan's story, here: http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/ohios-voting-machines-busted-and-wont-be-fixed

This aside, I think the presidential candidates' choices for VP are very well thought-out. Yet, only they know the real reasons for their choices -- and Americans will likely "suffer the consequences":).

Too, the issue should never be about "shattering the glass ceiling", even though it is touted as one (of many). I agree that it should be about "...whether a person is ready to step up to the position."

Thanks again.

Emilio Lizardo
Emilio Lizardo
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:25 on August 30th, 2008

'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Emilio, thank you for your comments, link, and the Flag. The theme analysis is quite interesting:)! Thanks again.

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Emilio Lizardo

Hey, Rhonda !

I already knew the quote, just not a page I could link to ...

After your reply, I went and read the theme analysis, and I agree, it's very apropo, not only for the political circus which is now playing itself out for all the world to see, alas, but maybe for life in general as well ...

Theme Analysis
Alice in Wonderland is a coming of age story. It is the growth of Alice from an undisciplined child to a wise young woman. The principle arrangement of this growth is two-parted. First Alice must learn that rules are essential to civil, adult life. Then she must learn that if rules are adhered to blindly, and without a merciful sense of justice, then society becomes worse than childish anarchy, it becomes a tyranny. These truths are played out in the metaphors of children's games and rhymes.

In the end, Alice must overcome the nonsense of the young and the old before she truly understands what adulthood is all about.


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Rhonda J Mangus

Emilio, thanks for adding the Theme Analysis! I agree, it holds true for the political circus and life in general as well:). Thanks again.

Milieunet
Milieunet
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:02 on August 31st, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

0
Rhonda J Mangus

Thank you, Milieunet!

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Rhonda J Mangus

Gh0s7, thank you!

hamid.nyc
hamid.nyc
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:21 on August 31st, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

0
Rhonda J Mangus

Hi hamid.nyc! Thank you for reading and the Flag!

 

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